Posers raised on works of PMGSY road

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Dec 14 : Another allegation of improper implementation of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) has cropped up in Manipur as people of a particular village have expressed deep dissatisfaction with how package number MN-KMJ0901 (A) of the Government programme was executed on the 16 Kms road connecting Sampui to Ningthi Village along Shangshak - Kamjong Highway stretch.
Reportedly, maintenance/construction works of the said 16 Kms road stretch began on October  10, 2018.
After the road was widened, a Granular Sub-Base (GSB) layer of 200 mm thickness was to be spread on 3.25 metre of the road width and above it a metaled layer or Water Bound Mechanism (WBM) of 75 mm thickness was to be laid.
Furthermore, bitumen of 20 mm comprising prime coat, tack coat and seal coat has to be laid on the carriageway which is 3 metres wide.
As per the specification of the project, eight retaining walls or six  breast walls, side drain and culverts at 17 different locations have to be instaled along the 16 Kms road stretch for safety and other purposes.
The project was to be completed by April 26, 2020.
It is reported that execution of the  project has been stopped without completing the works and all the sub-contractors, labourers and machinery have vacated the project site.
Peeved over the condition of the road stretch and at how the project was executed, village authority of Ningthi Village invited this reporter for joint inspection, following which an inspection tour was taken out yesterday.
During the tour, it was found that preparations were underway to lay bitumen near Ningthi Village only in some portion of the road stretch while majority of the area covered by the project was in bad shape.
There is no sight of any progress in the construction of the side drain too.
At some sites, there are risks of road slide as the road condition is found unfit for vehicles movement.
Moreover, the inspection team didn't find any retaining walls, breast walls and culverts along the 16 Kms road stretch which were to be constructed for safety purposes as per the specification of the project. Though the tenure of the project has already expired, there is still time to continue the maintenance works as it will expire on April 26, 2025.
Speaking to The Sangai Express, member of Ningthi Village Authority, Lovejoy Shimray said that Ningthi village is not the end point of the project as the construction/maintenance works have to be taken  to other villages from Ningthi Village.
He also said that maintenance works of PMGSY along the road connecting  Ningthi Village and Hangkou Village is progressing much faster at the latter's side.
Saying that the villagers were elated when the work order for the construction/maintenance of the 16 Kms road stretch was issued,   Lovejoy said that the way at which the works were executed wasn't expected by the villagers as the road still is in deplorable conditions.
He also said that village authority had apprised the sub-contractor concerned to implement the work as per the specification given by the Government during the working season multiple times 'but to no avail.'
Saying that the village will face great inconvenience in the next monsoon season if the road is not repaired at the earliest, he appealed to the Chief Minister to understand the grievances of the people and do the needful.